Open pacer Illwinifican ceded the lead early on and then swept past the duelling leaders in the stretch to earn a new lifetime mark for trainer/driver Dennis Johnston in this week's $11,000 top class at Fraser Downs on Sunday afternoon (March 19).
Leaving from post two, Illwinifican attempted to out-sprint insider Comes Homes First (Serge Masse) off the gate, but was forced to settle in behind as his rival forged on through a :26.4 opening quarter. As Comes Home First took a second-quarter breather to the half in :56.2, Sabine Pass (Paul Davies) launched his attack from third and engaged the leader in a heated battle to three-quarters in 1:24. The top pair continued to duke it out turning for home, but Illwinifican shot through the passing lane to score the one-length victory in 1:53.1.
The five-year-old Allamerican Native-Builttowin Hanover gelding lowered his lifetime mark for the second time this year. He took a full second off his former mark that he had established over sloppy conditions in his last victory on February 19.
Illwinifican was the 6-5 favourite following two runner-up finishes this month in the Open and paid $4.50 to win. Comes Home First, the 3-2 second choice, finished second ahead of Sabine Pass.
Johnston shares ownership of the winner with Ray Thomson of Surrey, B.C. Illwinifican now boasts three wins and three second-place finishes from eight starts this year and has finished no worse than fourth to earn $25,220 for his connections. The former Robert Murphy Breeders Stakes champion's early season success puts his career record at 14-11-2 from 37 starts and pushes his bankroll to $163,635.
In the following fifth race for $6,000 claiming pacers, Swedish driver Daniel Selin earned his first North American victory with Fox Valleyrichrokr ($12.30) for trainer Rod Therres and the Fraser Downs Horse Racing Club.
The five-year-old Richess Hanover-Fox Valley Rock On gelding closed widest of all from seventh in the stretch to win a photo finish for place behind Chew Tobacco Spit (Travis Bowman), who had caused interference when he broke stride early on and was ultimately placed eighth. Fox Valleyrickrokr thus inherited the win, timed in 2:00.2.
The victory was Fox Valleyrickrokr's first for the Racing Club since being recruited in the fall.
Selin had previously competed at Fraser Downs last October. In his return, he picked up three drives on Sunday's card and also earned a second-place finish. Selin and fellow Swedish guest driver Claes Sjostrom are scheduled to race at Fraser Downs again next weekend. Sjostrom managed two fourth-place finishes in his first Canadian starts, including one aboard Mister Hat in the Open.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.